Success in tackling gang activity in Northampton

The team tasked with tackling gang activity in Northampton made great strides in 2023 new results show.

A review of the work undertaken by the Op Revive team, who police Blackthorn and Kings Heath, focuses on bringing the offenders of serious violence associated with Class A drug dealing and gangs to justice, shows:

• 195 arrests were made
• £209,000 worth of illegal drugs have been seized
• 49 weapons were seized, including firearms and ammunition
• More than £42,000 in cash seized
• 31 years in prison sentences handed down, with more cases progressing
• 1,969 intelligence logs received

Police officers and PCSOs from Northamptonshire Police have worked closely with partners from West Northamptonshire Council and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to tackle this criminality while supporting local communities.

In particular, there’s a focus on Blackthorn, the county’s first designated Clear, Hold, Build area.

Clear, Hold, Build is a Home Office initiative aimed at strengthening a local community’s resilience to serious and organised crime, ensuring that once a gang has been dismantled, the area does not become the target for another group to take its place.

Northampton’s Chief Inspector Nathan Murray said: “The work that’s taken place in the town to tackle gang activity is making great strides, as shown by the work of Op Revive last year.

“Making arrests, seizing weapons and illegal drugs will always be a priority for us, however Clear, Hold, Build gives us the chance to really focus on the impact these offences can have on the wider community.

“Blackthorn has been selected as the county’s first Clear, Hold, Build area as it’s a place we believe we can make a real difference to help improve people’s lives, take robust action against criminals and support communities, helping them to feel safe.”

The initiative has three phases of activity.

Clear - This phase involves targeted enforcement activity that targets organised crime groups and their networks.

Hold - This phase involves stabilising the clear phase to stop remaining or other OCG members capitalising on the vacuum created. This phase aims to improve community confidence by ensuring spaces remain safe.

Build - This phase involves delivering community-based work that tackles the drivers of crime, exploitation of vulnerabilities and harm.

Chief Inspector Murray added: “Organised crime groups embed themselves in the areas in which they’re based, exploit local children and take over the homes of vulnerable people.

“The work of our Op Revive team is just one cog in our ability to tackle gangs. They work closely with our expanded Neighbourhood Policing Teams to resolve issues impacting our communities, such as cuckooing and drug dealing.

“A lot of joint working with partners already takes place to tackle gang activity, but this initiative, alongside the work of the Serious Violence Prevention Partnership, will really help to make a difference to people affected by this criminality.”

Cllr David Smith, West Northamptonshire Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement, and Regulatory Services, said: “This kind of initiative is incredibly important in building confidence within our communities.

“I’m incredibly grateful to colleagues from our Community Safety and Engagement Team who have supported this work, and am pleased to see that the contributions from our Safer Streets funding are paying off.

“It’s vital that as a partnership we keep up the pressure and don’t let the criminals win. They should be the ones looking over their shoulders rather than the residents they insinuate themselves amongst.”